Electrical Connector Assembly Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connector assemblies are prone to unintended disconnection due to undue forces, especially those with upward components, which can cause the connector to come off unexpectedly, even when not intentionally pulled.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector assembly features a locking protruding portion and a locking groove portion with specific dimensions and orientations on the cable and receptacle connectors, allowing the protruding portion to securely engage within the groove, preventing disconnection by abutting with a rising portion when undue forces are applied, and facilitating easy intentional disconnection by tilting the front end upward.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cam surfaces are provided on side wall faces of connectors to enable easy pull-out, then connector can be easily removed when force is applied, but connector may unexpectedly come off when cable receives undue force
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is divided into two independent parts: a locking protrusion on the cable connector and a locking groove on the receptacle connector. This segmentation allows the locking function to be separated from the cam surface pull-out mechanism, so that undue forces on the cable do not automatically trigger disconnection while intentional pull-out forces can still easily remove the connector through the cam surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking protrusion and locking groove are designed to engage beforehand, creating a preliminary locking state that prevents unintended disconnection. The locking groove includes a bottom surface that receives and holds the locking protrusion, creating a preliminary anti-action against the cam surface's tendency to allow easy pull-out under undue forces.
2Reliability
If locking protrusion and locking groove are provided to prevent unintended disconnection, then connector reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking protrusion and locking groove are integrated into the existing connector housings without requiring separate locking components. The locking groove is formed as a recess in the receptacle connector housing, and the locking protrusion is formed as an extension of the cable connector housing, merging the locking function into the basic connector structure and minimizing additional complexity.
3Reliability
If locking groove depth is increased to secure locking protrusion, then connector reliability improves, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking groove is designed with specific dimensional parameters: the distance between the backmost position of the groove front edge and the forefront position of the groove rear edge is set to be smaller than the distance between the forefront position of the protrusion front end and the backmost position of the protrusion rear end. This parameter relationship ensures reliable locking engagement while allowing for reasonable manufacturing tolerances.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(A)~2(C)
Figure 3(A)~3(C)
AI summary
An electrical connector assembly includes a cable connector; a receptacle connector connected to the cable connector in a first direction; and a locking protruding portion disposed on one of the cable connector and the receptacle connector. The locking protruding portion has a first length in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The electrical connector assembly further includes a locking groove portion disposed in the other of the cable connector and the receptacle connector. The locking groove portion has a second distance in the second direction smaller than the first length, so that the locking protruding portion can be inserted into the locking groove portion only in an inclined state and the receptacle connector is not disconnected upwardly from the cable connector when the locking protruding portion is situated in the locking groove portion.